Brake mechanism for self-propelled vehicles.



No. 684,527. Patented Oct; 15, mm.

' s. REENSTIERNA.

BRA KE MECHANISM FOR SELF P RDPELLED VEHICLES.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

x ams PETERS co, PHofouwo. wlmmurcm, 0 cv UNITED STATES PATENT Qnnrcn.

GUSTAF L. REENSTIERNA, OF WVINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRAK E MECHANISM FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 684,527, dated October15, 1901.

Application filed October 8, 1900. Serial No. 32,322. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that LGUsrAF LREENSTIERNA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Winchester, in the county of Middlesex, State ofMassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inBrake Mechanisms for Self-Propelled Vehicles, dzc. of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

My improved brake mechanism hereinafter described is fitted for use invarious connections; but I have designed the same for use moreespecially in connection with what are known variously as automobiles,motorvehicles, or self-propelled vehicles.

Some forms of brake mechanism which heretofore .have been applied toautomobiles have the drawback that although when applied they areoperative to prevent undesired movement of the vehicle in one directionthey are not effectual to prevent movement in the other direction undercertain conditions. For instance,- such brake mechanisms operateefficiently to check forward movement of a vehicle; but it sometimeshappens that when a vehicle is ascending an upgrade and the brakemechanism is applied so as to check and arrest the advancing or forwardmovement of the vehicle the tendency of the vehicle to move backwarddown the grade under the influence of gravity is too great for theholding capacity of the brake mechanism, and in consequence the vehiclestarts downhill. This results in inconvenience and accidents. Accidentsare exceedingly likely to occur when the motive power gives out inascending a hill unless the brake when applied acts eificiently to holdthe vehicle from moving downhill. With the object in view of remedyingthe difficulty it has been proposed heretofore to apply duplicate brakemechanisms to a vehicle, the one thereof acting in a manner to check andprevent forward movement of the vehicle, and the other thereof acting toprevent retrograde movement thereof, the respective brake mechanismsbeing applied as necessitated by circumstances.

My invention consists in a duplex, doubleacting, or reversible brakemechanism of simble of being applied readily to a vehicle of i the classaforesaid and adapted to be operated to prevent movement or counteracttendency to movement of the vehicle in either direction at will.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a simple embodiment ofthe invention, which I will now proceed to-describe.

The distinguishing and characteristic features of the invention areparticularly pointed out and distinctly defined in the claims at theclose of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation the saidembodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows the same elevation viewed fromone side in Fig. 1.

Having reference to the drawings, 1 designates a suitable shaft, whichin practice is mounted in the self-propelled or motor vehicle, it beingeither embodied in the drivinggear or running-gear of the vehicle orbeing operatively connected therewith in some suit able manner so as toturn in its bearings in correspondence with the movement of the vehicle.2 is a brake-wheel mounted on the said shaft 1. applied in connectionwith said shaft 1 at opposite sides of the said brake-wheel 2, the saidbearings being provided in checks or side frames 4 4, which areconnected with the tubular supports 5 5, forming part of a suitable Ihave shown bearings at 3 8,

framework pertaining to the vehicle in which the invention is employed.6 designates a brake-band encircling th periphery of the brake-Wheel 2and in the present instance composed of a metal strap having africtional lining 61, of leather or other suitable material, for thepurpose, as usual. The said brake-band 6 is connected with thebrake-lever 7, only the lower part of which is shown, and theconstruction and mode of connection of the parts are such, as I will nowproceed to explain, that the brakeband 6 is drawn into contact with theperiphery of the brake-wheel 2 with ample efficiency to produce therequisite braking effect in either direction in which the lever 7 ismoved. The opposite ends of the brake-band 6 are connected with thebrake-lever 7 at points separated from each other. Herein the saidopposite ends of the brake-band 6 are shown connected with divergingarms 71 71 of the brake-lever 7. The brake-lever 7 is constructed forloose pivotal engagement with the side frames 4 4 at points oppositelylocated with reference to a plane passing through the axis of theshaft 1. Herein a pivotal pin 8, applied to each arm 71 of thebrake-lever 7, has its ends arranged to project at opposite sides of thesaid arm, the said ends working in areshaped slots 9 9, which are formedin the up per portions of the castings 4 4. A tensionspring 10,connectedwith the brake-lever 7 at a point midway between the pins 8 8 and alsoconnected with a cross piece or plate 11 (shown in dotted lines inFig. 1) and attached ,;to the side frames 4 4, draws upon the brakeleverwith a tendency to hold both of the pins 8 8seated against the lowerends of the slots 9 9. Each slot 9 is concentric with the opposite pin8. In the present instance the pins SSare utilized for connecting theopposite ends of the brake-band 6 with the opposite arms 71 71 of thebrake-lever 7. Thus each end of the brake-band has a plate 12 attachedthereto by means of rivets or other securing devices 13 13, the saidplate 12 being provided with a lug 121, which enters between similarlugs 72 72 with which the corresponding arm of the brake-lever 7 isprovided, the corresponding pin-8 being driven through holes in thethree lugs, which holes register with one another when the lug 121 hasbeen placed in proper apposition with the lugs 72 72.

It will now be perceived that the brake-lever 7 is f n in ished withduplicate f ulcra,which latter are located at opposite sides of a planepassing through the. axis of the shaft 1 and brake-wheel 2. The spring10 operates with a tendency to hold the brake-lever 7 in the normalintermediate inoperative position thereof which it occupies in thedrawings, the pivot-pins 8 8 being held pressed with equal force by thesaid spring against the seats, which are constituted by the lower orinner ends of the slots 9 9 in the side frames 4 4,

and the brake-band being loose. If now the brake-lever is swung ineither direction, it will turn upon one of the pins 8 8 as upon afulcrum, while the otherof the said pinswill be caused to rise in itsslots 9 9, which will draw the corresponding end of the brake-band 6, soas to tighten the said brake-band against the periphery of thebrake-wheel 2. In practice the direction in which the brake lever isswung will be determined by the direction in which at the moment ofapplying the brake the shaft 1 is rotating or tending to rotate. It willbe perceived that it is possible in every case to apply the brake-bandin such manner that the tendency of the same to move around in unisonwith the periphery of the brake- Wheel 2 shall be resisted by fixedabutments. Thus in case the shaft 3 should be rotating in the directionwhich is indicated by the ar row near the same in Fig. l orin case itshould be desired to counteractthe tendency of the said shaft to rotatein the said direction the brake-lever 7 would be swung in the directionthat is indicated by the arrow near the upper end of the same in thesaid figure. Movement of the said lever in this direction would causethe pivot-pin 8 at the left-hand side in Fig. 1 to take bearings againstthe seats or bearings which are constituted by the lower ends of theleft-hand slots 9 in the side frames 4 4, while the right-hand pivotpin8 would rise in the right-hand slots 9, and the pull or drag upon thebrake-band 6 resulting from its frictional engagement with thebrake-wheel 2 would be resisted by the fixed abutments, which areconstituted by the ends of the left-hand slots 9. In case of rotation ortendency to rotation of the shaft 3 in the reverse direction movementwould require to be imparted to the brake-lever 7 in the direction whichis opposite to that indicated by the arrow at the top of Fig. 1, and inthis event the left-hand pivot-pin 8would rise in the left-hand slots 9,while the righthand pivot-pin would take firm bearing at the lower endsof the right-hand slots, the said lower ends constituting at this timethe fixed abutments to withstand the drag or pull on the brake-bandwhich is incident ,to the engagement of the brake-band with the periphery of the brake-wheel 2.

My invention enables the brake mechan ism to act with equal efficiencyin either di rection of rotation of the shaft 1, since in eitherdirection of rotation if the brake is ap plied properly the pull uponthe brake-band is resisted by a fixed abutment.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination, a brake-wheel, a brakebandencircling said brake wheel, a reversi-' bly-movable brake-lever havingthe ends of said brake-band connected therewith at opposite points, andalso having opposite pivots, and the side frames having the oppositefulcra for said brake-lever and the arc-shaped slots in which saidpivots work, substantially as described.

2. In combination, a brake-Wheel, a brakeband encircling saidbrake-wheel, a reversibly-movable brake-lever having opposite pivots andalso having the ends of said brakeband connected therewith at saidpivots, and

opposite slotted or open bearings for said pivots, substantially asdescribed.

3. In combination, a brake-Wheel, a brakeband encircling saidbrake-wheel, a reversibly-movable brake-lever having the ends of saidbrake-band connected therewith at opposite points, and also havingopposite pivots, opposite bearings adapted to receive said pivots, and aspring acting with a tendency to hold both pivots to said bearings,substantially as described.

4. In combination, a brake-wheel, a brakeband encircling saidbrake-wheel, a reversibly-movable brake-lever having the ends of Intestimony whereof I affix my signature said brake-band connectedtherewith at opin presence of two Witnesses. posite points, and alsohaving opposite pivots, opposite slotted or open bearings for said(IUSTAF REENSTIERNA' 5 pivots, and a spring acting with a tendencyWitnesses:

to hold both pivots to their seats in said bear- OHAs. F. RANDALL, ings,substantially as described. 1 SADIE M. LOWNSBRO.

